No, this is not a news tip from The Onion: A group of Illinois state lawmakers, headed by state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), starred in a musical revue downstate Wednesday.
The State Journal-Register reports that May and others spoofed state politics through song at the Conference of Women Legislator's Cruise Cabaret, an event that will raise money for college scholarships aimed toward nontraditional students.
The paper previewed some of the entertainment early Wednesday:
May also said that Reps. Ann Williams and Kimberly du Buclet, both Chicago Democrats, wrote a rap song called “Diva-licious;” Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago, is the “mastermind” of a song called “Wasting away in Madiganistan"..
The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. While we only saw one video of the action so far, we are hoping to find documentation of Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon and other lawmakers singing "Governor Quinn Had a Farm" on the banjo. Simon is an avid player of the stringed instrument and has been in a band called Loose Gravel for over a decade.
Considering that Illinois state lawmakers have seen their salaries cut or otherwise frozen in recent years, who could blame May and company for trying out a side hustle. But one has to wonder how their musical prowess will stack up against the singing talents of a certain other lawmaker with Illinois roots.